They are empowered to stop any vehicle for traffic violations, but drivers sometimes make catcalls and indecent gestures to them. Many women traffic officers, who have been posted in almost all of the 43 traffic circles in the capital alongside their male counterparts, are allegedly facing harassment at the hands of male drivers in outer Delhi and even Connaught Place.
"It becomes problematic in areas like GT Karnal Road, Madhuban Chowk and sometimes even in Connaught Place. It doesn't matter what time of day it is. Male drivers, mostly cab drivers and sometimes even people in big cars, try to act fresh," said a lady constable.

The officer said as many as six of her colleagues posted in the capital had been harassed during the last fortnight.

"Sometimes they stop their vehicles dangerously close to us before breaking into a song and driving away and sometimes bikers try to grope us. One of my colleagues was molested by a Mahindra Champion driver at Madhuban Chowk at 3pm," she claimed.

The lady officers, 4,800 of whom are currently performing various duties in the Delhi Police, are in two minds about filing written complaints to their seniors and choose to ignore unsolicited advances.

"They (the harassers) have an advantage because they have vehicles and can speed away after the incident. But what can we do?" she said.

A senior police officer said they wouldn't think twice before initiating action against such unruly drivers.

"Though we are yet to receive any such complaint, any female officer who has gone through such an experience is free to approach me for help," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).